Draft Highlights
The 2026 MLB Draft brought a wave of excitement to the Wake Forest baseball program as five of its standout players heard their names called by major league clubs.
Among the selections, left‑hander Carson Bolemon, a top pitching commit, was chosen in competitive balance round A by the San Francisco Giants, while right‑hander Ethan Wachsmann, an incoming freshman, was picked in the third round by the Minnesota Twins. Star slugger Kade Lewis slipped to the fourth round and was selected by the Cleveland Guardians, and flame‑throwing right‑hander Duncan Marsten found a home with the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round. Speedster Javar Williams was taken by the Oakland Athletics in the 11th round, and veteran Matthew Dallas, who missed most of the season due to an elbow injury, was drafted by the Washington Nationals. Finally, team captain Dalton Wentz was selected by the Giants in the 16th round.
Although several high‑profile prospects such as Ethan Bass, TJ McQuillan and Grayden Seuferling were not drafted, they have decided to join the Demon Deacons, bringing athletic versatility and power to the roster and shaping the team’s depth for the coming years.
Coach Tom Walter and his staff, including Josh Hartle, Tommy Hawke, Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder and Nick Kurtz, have guided the program through a period of rapid development, and the recent draft results underscore the effectiveness of their recruiting and player development strategies.
The influx of fresh talent, combined with the returning core, positions Wake Forest as a program to watch in the ACC, with analysts expecting a competitive season ahead as the new recruits integrate with the existing lineup.